Industrial electricians perform similar duties to home electricians, only they work in factories or commercial buildings in the automotive, steel, consumer products and mining industries. Industrial electricians follow blueprints and diagrams to install electrical wire and lighting systems. They also repair or replace defective wiring, train new electricians on installation procedures and ensure they follow building standards based on the National Electric Code. Industrial electricians earned salaries averaging above $40,000 annually.

Wages and Qualifications

Industrial electricians earned average annual wages of $46,000 as of 2013, according to the jobsite Indeed. This equates to $22.11 per hour, based on a 40-hour workweek. The minimum requirements for an industrial electrician is a high school diploma and four years of apprenticeship training. All electricians must complete 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training as apprentices, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Depending on the employer, industrial electricians may need two or more years of experience in the industry. Other essential requirements are color vision, physical stamina, and customer service, critical thinking, communication, managerial and troubleshooting skills.

Wages by Region

In 2013, average annual wages for industrial electricians varied between $14,000 and $19,000 in the four U.S. regions, according to Indeed. In the Midwest, they earned the highest wages of $49,000 in Illinois, and the lowest of $35,000 in South Dakota and Nebraska. Those in the Northeast made $39,000 to $55,000 per year in Maine and New York, respectively. Industrial electricians earned $31,000 to $50,000, respectively, in Hawaii and California, which were the lowest and highest salaries in the West. In the South region, they made the most in Washington, D.C., and the least in Louisiana -- $54,000 and $39,000, respectively.

Contributing Factors

An industrial electrician may earn higher wages in certain industries. For example, electricians, including industrial electricians, earned some of the highest salaries of $75,430 in the natural gas distribution industry in 2012, according to the BLS, which is more than $22,000 higher than the industry average for all electricians -- $53,030. Industrial electricians earn more in New York and Washington, D.C., because housing and living costs are higher in this state and district. An industrial electrician earning $45,000 in Topeka, Kan., must make $105,530 in New York City to maintain the same living standard, according to CNN Money's "Cost of Living" calculator. In Washington, D.C., that same person would need to make $69,115 annually.

Job Outlook

The BLS projects a 23-percent increase in jobs for all electricians, which is faster than the national growth rate of 14 percent for all occupations. Growth in the construction industry and the need for maintenance of older equipment in manufacturing plants should increase job opportunities for industrial electricians. Sales in the auto industry increased 8 percent in June 2013, according to MoneyNews.com, which could impact jobs for these workers. An improved economy and increased production may increase the need for larger and more updated plants. This may also lead to job growth among industrial electricians.